Dien Bien Phu and the end of French rule: US involvement in the Vietnam War, 1954-75: History: GCSE (9:1)

Vietnam

Country in South East Asia

Indochina

French colony made up of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam

Communism

Only one political party, the communist party. Everyone is equal. All industry and businesses are state controlled for the benefit of everyone. Censorship of the media.

Capitalism

There are several parties to vote for and voters can change the government. Most business and industry is privately owned. Little censorship of the media.

French rule in Vietnam

Vietnam had been a French colony before it was occupied by the Japanese during World War Two. After World War Two it was returned to French control, but many Vietnamese people wanted independence.

Viet Minh

Viet Minh, an organisation dedicated to removing foreign powers from Vietnam.

1945

By 1945, the Viet Minh had 500 guerrilla fighters.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of the Viet Minh.

Guerrilla warfare

Small scale attacks tactics such as sudden ambushes and sabotage.

Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954)

Military engagement in French colonial Vietnam in which French forces were defeated by Viet Minh.

The French leave Vietnam

With this loss, the French ended their colonial involvement in Indochina, and agreed to leave Vietnam

Viet Minh tactics

The Viet Minh used guerrilla warfare against the French.

Loss of French troops

There had been 16,500 French troop at the Battle of the Diem Bien Phu, only 3,000 survived.